artsocial

This week was extreme collaboration week. Bedsidesign started us off on Monday, then yesterday Artsy Forager and I announced the Art Association contest (hey gurrl, have you entered yet?), and then today's the Be Happy Linkup (my favsies, link up below!). I'm blown away by the collaboration excitement and support that's occurred over only a few weeks. I'm working with - and will be working with - some of my favorite bloggy friends. SO glad I started my blog happiness project with collaboration. It's all about community, right?
Sure, I've wanted to work with other bloggers from the beginning, but dedicating a whole month to that one aspect of blogging was the ticket. It was exactly what I needed. By making it a priority and my sole focus for a whole month, I was able to dedicate the time and energy good collabos deserve. I think placing my attention on working with others has made it easier to receive those opportunities too. It's incredible what focus, intention, and a little soul searching can achieve.

Following that inner push pays off, I tell ya.

As things start to grow and the comments start coming in and my little blogger heart is so happy I could burst into song (probably this song), I'm reminded of what a journey this blogging thang is. Reading Joy Cho's new book, Blog Inc., makes me realize I'm only at the beginning of the blogging road. I'm still a little one in a big blog world. I tend to get overly excited about the things I love and just want to hurry up and get to the good part! But that's not how this works. This time it's about the journey, not the destination. And this time the journey IS the good part.

Of course my gurrl Gretchen touches on this issue of enjoying the now and taking pleasure in the gradual progress made towards a goal:

When I find myself focusing overmuch on the anticipated future happiness of arriving at a certain goal, I remind myself to "Enjoy now." If I can enjoy the present, I don't need to count on the happiness that is (or isn't) waiting for me in the future. The fun part doesn't come later, now is the fun part.

Eff yeah! Now is the fun part... While the future feels very very exciting and I can't wait to be one of the big kids, right now's pretty ridiculously rad too.

The Be Happy Linkup is upon us... I can't wait to read all of your happy words of wisdom. Link up below, friends!